PLS1502 Assignment 2 Semester 1 2023

PLS1502 Assignment 2 Semester 1 2023 Answers, guidelines, workings and references .............................................................. “Defining African philosophy requires clarification of one's assumptions at different levels. That complex question What is African philosophy to be defined as? requires that we understand, among other things: 1) what we are willing to count as philosophy in the strictest sense; 2) what we are willing to count as philosophical texts; 3) who is making the definition and for what audience (the question of motivations and intentions); and 4) one's ideological commitments.” - How is African philosophy to be defined? /S.O. Imbo (p 46) “The question whether or not African philosophy is possible or exists continues to be debated. It is curious that the debate seems endless even though strong arguments have been advanced to demonstrate the actual existence of African philosophy. Non-Africans are the principal initiators of this question. They remain the ones who continue to keep the question alive. Thus, it is pertinent to ask, (i) why they persist in raising this question and, (ii) what is the meaning of this question?” - The struggle for reason in Africa /M.B. Ramose (p 4) Why is the definition of African philosophy an inherently political exercise? Guidelines for answering the question: - In your essay, critically reflect on the definitional dilemmas of philosophy in general and African philosophy in particular. - In answering the question, also attend to the problems that universality and Eurocentrism present for philosophy in the debates discussed in the prescribed readings and study guide. OPTION B Critically compare Nkombe and Smet’s classification of African philosophy with Oruka’s four trends in African philosophy. Guidelines for answering the question: - In your discussion briefly highlight their strengths and weaknesses and state which of the two classifications you prefer and why.